Woman, 23, murdered her fiance outside their home after 'losing her temper'
02.01.2024 - 13:27
/ manchestereveningnews.co.uk
A philosophy student who “lost her temper” and ran over her fiance has been found guilty of his murder.
Alice Wood, 23, used her Ford Fiesta as a weapon when she hit partner Ryan Watson, 24, near the home they shared in Rode Heath, Cheshire, on May 6 of last year.
Wood, a student at the University of Manchester, denied murder and an alternative count of manslaughter as she claimed her boyfriend’s death was a “tragic accident”. She told her trial at Chester Crown Court she did not realise he was trapped underneath her car when she drove 158 metres up Sandbach Road before stopping.
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But a jury today (Tuesday) convicted Wood, of Draycott Cross Road, Cheadle, Staffordshire, of murder following the three-week trial. She has been remanded in custody to be sentenced on January 29.
Ryan was killed after Wood repeatedly drove her car at him in what witnesses described as a game of ‘chicken’ after she lost her temper.
The pair had returned to their home at the time in Oak Street shortly after 11pm after attending a party in Hanley, at which both had been drinking alcohol.
Wood drove Ryan’s vehicle home, a Fiat Punto, and both exited the vehicle. At around 11.20pm, Wood was seen on CCTV getting into her own car, a Ford Fiesta, and reversing it out of its space while Ryan is seen walking around in the vicinity.
Around this time, neighbours reported hearing shouting, doors slamming, and a car engine revving. CCTV shows the Fiesta reversing towards Ryan, almost hitting him.
Wood drove towards Ryan a second time, onto Sandbach Road, knocking him onto the bonnet. Footage showed Ryan walking away from the collision but Wood deliberately drove at